Old Metairie makes way for a new Mediterranean menu

Photos courtesy Taziki’s Mediterranean Café

The first Taziki’s Mediterranean Café in South Louisiana is set to open Friday at 701 Metairie Road – nestled in the Old Metairie Village Shopping Center.

A press release describes its menu as “fresh, handcrafted Mediterranean fare,” which will include gyros, sandwiches, soups and salads. The restaurant will offer dine-in lunch and dinner with outdoor seating and a to-go area.

Local franchisees Barre and Cecile Tanguis are opening what will be the first of five planned Louisiana locations of the Birmingham, Alabama-based brand. Joe Reiss, co-owner of locally-owned chain Poke Loa, will handle day-to-day operations of the Metairie Mediterranean restaurant. Reiss and his sister, Cecile, and brother-in-law, Barre, co-own Poke Loa, which opened in 2017 and has grown to six locations.

“We love the community feel of Taziki’s, in addition to the delicious food that makes you feel great,” Cecile Tanguis said in a news release. “We understand how valuable the Mediterranean diet is to the public’s overall health, so we’re excited to be able to introduce this wonderful, fresh concept to the New Orleans area.”

Barre Tanguis is CEO of Macromia Group, which he started with his wife Cecile. His past projects have included St. Roch Market and Politan Row in New Orleans and MIA Market in Miami. Cecile Tanguis is a New Orleans native known for her New Orleans-inspired clothing and accessories label, NOLA Couture.

“We are thrilled to bring our fast-casual Mediterranean food to the Metairie community and with partners as well-established as Barre and Cecile Tanguis,” said Taziki’s CEO Dan Simpson. “We know Taziki’s will become a favorite for great, fresh food at a reasonable price. Our fans are loyal, so there’s no doubt in my mind all the planned cafes will flourish under their watch.”

Founded by Keith and Amy Richards in 1998, Taziki’s Mediterranean Café now serves its modern Mediterranean fare to customers at over 80 locations in 16 states. Taziki’s has an existing location in Shreveport.

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